1. From Steatosis to Metastasis: Microenvironmental Reprogramming of the Liver in MASLD

Cho GJ, Kim SM, Yang YM*, Seki E*

Clin Mol Hepatol (2026) Published online  (*co-corresponding authors) <link>

2. Hyperglycemia in combination with excess fat intake promotes renal pyroptosis and fibrosis through Gα12-dependent endoplasmic reticulum stress  

Khan MS , Kim B , Jeon Y, Tak J, Kim YS, Lee SG, Lee EB, Lee CH, Eom CB,  Lee HS, Jang HK, Lee N, Kie JH, Yang JM* , Yang YM*, Kim SG* 

Theranostics (2026) 16(8):3996-4018 (*co-corresponding authors)  <link>

1. Metastatic Tumor Growth in Steatotic Liver is Promoted by HAS2-Mediated Fibrotic Tumor Microenvironment. 

Yang YM*, Kim J*, Wang Z, Kim J, Kim SY, Cho GJ, Lee JH, Kim SM, Tsuchiya T, Matsuda M, Pandyarajan V, Pandol SJ, Lewis MS, Gangi A, Noble PW, Jiang D, Merchant A, Posadas EM, Bhowmick NA, Lu SC, You S, Xu AM, Seki E. 

J Clin Invest (2025) 135(7):e180802 (*co-first authors)  <link>

2.  A1AT dysregulation of metabolically stressed hepatocytes by Kupffer cells drives MASH and fibrosis. 

Park JS, Lee J, Wang F, Ma H, Zhou Z, Lee YS, Oh K, Lee H, Sui G, Lee S, Yang YM, Lee JW, Ji YH, Park CW, Yoo HS, Hwang BY, Han SB, Song N, Oh S, Kim B, Seki E, Hong JT, Roh YS. 

Exp Mol Med (2025) 57(2):450-465 <link>

3. Bacterial components-driven intrahepatic CXCR5hi B cells are important population for MASH progression through inducing inflammation. 

Kim NH, Kim MY, Yang YM, Jeong WI, Lee HW, Kim W, Kang SG, Han YH. 

FASEB J (2025) 31;39(2):e70322 <link>

1. Atractylodes Lancea and Its Constituent, Atractylodin, Ameliorates Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease via AMPK Activation. 

Song GY, Kim SM, Back S, Yang SB*, Yang YM*. 

Biomol Ther (2024) 32(6):778-792 (*co-corresponding authors) <link>

2. Panaxydol extracted from Panax ginseng inhibits NLRP3 inflammasome activation to ameliorate NASH-induced liver injury. 

Kim MY, Jeong B, Lee GS, Jeon H, Yang YM, Yang H, Han YH. 

Int Immunopharmacol (2024) 128:111565 <link>

1. Extracellular vesicles in fatty liver promote a metastatic tumor microenvironment. 

Wang Z, Kim SY, Tu W, Kim J, Xu A, Yang YM, Matsuda M, Reolizo L, Tsuchiya T, Billet S, Gangi A, Noureddin M, Falk BA, Kim S, Fan W, Tighiouart M, You S, Lewis MS, Pandol SJ, Di Vizio D, Merchant A, Posadas EM, Bhowmick NA, Lu SC, Seki E. 

Cell Metab (2023) 35(7):1209-1226.e13 <link>

2. ERdj5 protects goblet cells from endoplasmic reticulum stress-mediated apoptosis under inflammatory conditions. 

Jeong H, Hong EH, Ahn JH, Cho J, Jeong JH, Kim CW, Yoon BI, Koo JH, Park YY, Yang YM, Iwawaki T, Vallance BA, Chang SY, Ko HJ. 

Exp Mol Med (2023) 55(2):401-412 <link>

3. Hepatic TREM2+ macrophages express matrix metalloproteinases to control fibrotic scar formation. 

Lee KJ, An S, Kim MY, Kim SM, Jeong WI, Ko HJ, Yang YM, Noh M, Han YH. 

Immunol Cell Biol (2023) 101(3):216-230 <link>

1. Hyaluronan synthase 2, a target of miR-200c, promotes carbon tetrachloride-induced acute and chronic liver inflammation via regulation of CCL3 and CCL4. 

Kim SM, Song GY, Shim A, Lee JH, Eom CB, Liu C, Yang YM*, Seki E*. 

Exp Mol Med (2022) 54(6):739-752 (*co-corresponding authors) <link>

2. Obesity exacerbates Coxsackievirus infection via lipid-induced mitochondrial reactive oxygen species generation. 

Kim SR, Song JH, Ahn JH, Jeong MS, Yang YM, Cho J, Jeong JH, Cha Y, Kim KN, Kim HP, Chang SY, Ko HJ. 

Immune Netw (2022) 22(2):e19 <link>

3. Loss of ERdj5 exacerbates oxidative stress in mice with alcoholic liver disease via suppressing Nrf2. 

Hong DG, Song GY, Eom CB, Ahn JH, Kim SM, Shim A, Han YH, Roh YS, Han CY, Bae EJ, Ko HJ, Yang YM. 

Free Radic Biol Med (2022) 184:42-52 (corresponding author) <link>

4. Crosstalk between Oxidative Stress and Inflammatory Liver Injury in the Pathogenesis of Alcoholic Liver Disease.

Yang YM, Cho YE, Hwang S.

Int J Mol Sci (2022) 23(2):774 <link>

1. Hepatokines and Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease: Linking Liver Pathophysioloigy to Metabolism

Kim TH, Hong DG, Yang YM.

Biomedicines (2021) 9(12):1903 (corresponding author) <link>

2. Exosomal microRNAs as diagnostic and therapeutic biomarkers in non-malignant liver diseases.

Hwang S. Yang YM.

Arch Pharm Res (2021) 44(6):574-587 (corresponding author) <link>

3. Global Spread of a Local Fire: Transmission of Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress via Connexin 43.

Yang YM, Seki E.

Cell Metab (2021) 33(2):229-230 <link>

4. Inhibition of hyaluronan synthesis by 4- methylumbelliferone ameliorates non-alcoholic steatohepatitis in choline-deficient L-amino acid-defined diet-induced murine model. 

Yang YM, Wang Z, Matsuda M, Seki E. 

Arch Pharm Res (2021) 44(2):230-240 <link>

1. Gα12/13 signaling in metabolic diseases.

Yang YM, Kuen DS, Chung Y, Kurose H, Kim SG.

Exp Mol Med 52(6):896-910 <link>

2. Hyaluronan synthase 2-mediated hyaluronan production mediates Notch1 activation and liver fibrosis. 

Yang YM, Noureddin M, Liu C, Ohashi K, Kim SY, Ramnath D, Powell EE, Sweet MJ, Roh YS, Hsin IF, Deng N, Liu Z, Liang J, Mena E, Shouhed D, Schwabe RF, Jiang D, Lu SC, Noble PW, Seki E. 

Sci Transl Med 11(496):eaat9284 <link>

3. NOD-like recetpro C4 inflammasome regulates the growth of colon cancer liver metastasis in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. 

Ohashi K, Wang Z, Yang YM, Billet S, Tu W, Pimienta M, Cassel SL, Pandol SJ, Lu SC, Sutterwala FS, Bhowmick N, Seki E. 

Hepatology 70(5):1582-1599 <link>

4. Inflammation and Liver Cancer: Molecular Mechanisms and Therapeutic Targets.

Yang YM, Kim SY, Seki E.

Semin Liver Dis 396(1):26-42 <link>

5. MEK inhibition suppresses K-Ras wilt-type cholangiocarcinoma in vitro and in vivo via inhibiting cell proliferation and modulating tumor microenvironment. 

Wang P, Song X, Utpatel K, Shang R, Yang YM, Xu M, Zhang J, Che L, Gordan J, Cigliano A, Seki E, Evert M, Calvisi DF, Hu X, Chen X. 

Cell Death Dis 10(2):120 <link>

6. Gα12 ablation exacerbates liver steatosis and obesity by suppressing USP22/SIRT1-regulated mitochondrial respiration. 

Kim TH*, Yang YM*, Han CY, Koo JH, Oh H, Kim SS, You BH, Choi YH, Park TS, Lee CH, Kurose H, Noureddin M, Seki E, Wan YY, Choi CS, Kim SG. 

J Clin Invest (2018) 128(12):5587- 5602 (*co-first authors) <link>

7. Interventional Potential of Recombinant Feline Hepatocyte Growth Factor in a Mouse Model of Non-alcoholic Steatohepatitis. 

Yang YM*, Fukui M*, Wang Z, Miao F, Karriker MJ, Seki E. 

Front Endocrinol (2018) 9:378 (*co-first authors) <link>

8. The contribution of toll-like receptor signaling to the development of liver fibrosis and cancer in hepatocyte-specific TAK1-deleted mice. 

Song IJ*, Yang YM*, Inokuchi-Shimizu S*, Roh YS, Yang L, Seki E. 

Int J Cancer (2018) 142(1):81-91 (*co-first authors) <link>

9. TRIF Differentially Regulates Hepatic Steatosis and Inflammation/Fibrosis in Mice. 

Yang L, Miura K, Zhang B, Matsushita H, Yang YM, Liang S, Song J, Roh YS, Seki E. 

Cell Mol Gastroenterol Hepatol (2017) 3(3):469-483 <link>

10. Exosome Migration Inhibitory Factor as a Marker and Therapeutic Target for Pancreatic Cancer.

Matsushita H, Yang YM, Pandol SJ, Seki E.

Gastroenterology (2016) 150(4):1033-1035 <link>

11. TNFα in liver fibrosis.

Yang YM, Seki E.

Curr Pathobiol Rep (2015) 3(4):253-261 <link>

12. Molecular network of HCC aggressiveness.

Kim SG, Heo MJ, Yang YM.

Oncoscience (205) 2(10):777-778 <link>

13. MafG, A Novel Target of FXR that Regulates Bile Acid Homeostasis.

Yang YM, Roh YS, Seki E.

Gastroenterology (2015) 149(7):1981-1983 <link>

14. Gα12 overexpressed in hepatocellular carcinoma reduces microRNA-122 expression via HNF4α inactivation, which causes cMet induction. 

Yang YM, Lee CG, Koo JH, Kim TH, Lee JM, An J, Kim KM, Kim SG. 

Oncotarget (2015) 6(22):19055-19069 <link>

15. Increase of miR-199a-5p by protoporphyrin IX, a photocatalyzer, directly inhibits E2F3, sensitizing mesenchymal tumor cells to anti-cancer agents. 

Lee JM, Heo MJ, Lee CG, Yang YM, Kim SG.. 

Oncotarget (2015) 6(6):3918-3931 <link>

16. Gα12 gep oncogene deregulation of p53-responsive microRNAs promotes epithelial-mesenchymal transition of hepatocellular carcinoma. 

Yang YM, Lee WH, Lee CG, An J, Kim ES, Kim SH, Lee SK, Lee CH, Dhanasekaran DN, Moon A, Hwang S, Lee SJ, Park JW, Kim KM, Kim SG. 

Oncogene (2015) 34(22):2910-2921 <link>

17. microRNA148a dysregulation discriminates poor prognosis of hepatocellular carcinoma in association with USP4 overexpression. 

Heo MJ, Kim YM, Koo JH, Yang YM, An J, Lee SK, Lee SJ, Kim KM, Park JW, Kim SG. 

Oncotarget (2014) 5(9):2792-2806 <link>

18. Gα12 gep oncogene inhibits FOXO1 in hepatocellular carcinoma as a consequence of miR-135b and miR-194 dysregulation. 

Jung HS, Seo YR, Yang YM, Koo JH, An J, Lee SJ, Kim KM, Kim SG. 

Cell Signal (2014) 26(7):1456-1465 <link>

19. An active metabolite of oltipraz (M2) increases mitochondrial fuel oxidation and inhibits lipogenesis in the liver by dually activating AMPK. 

Kim TH, Eom JS, Lee CG, Yang YM, Lee YS, Kim SG. 

Br J Pharmacol (2013) 168(7):1647-1661 <link>

20. Decrease of microRNA-122 causes hepatic insulin resistance by inducing protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B, which is reversed by licorice flavonoid. 

Yang YM, Seo SY, Kim TH, Kim SG. 

Hepatology (2012) 56(6):2209-2220 <link>

21. Rimonabant, a CB1 inverse agonist, inhibits hepatocyte lipogenesis by activating LKB1 and AMPK axis downstream of Gai/o inhibition. 

Wu HM*, Yang YM*, Kim SG. 

Mol Pharmacol (2011) 80(5):859-869 (*co-first authors) <link>

22. Transactivation of genes encoding for phase II enzymes and phase III transporters by phytochemical antioxidants

Yang YM, Noh K, Han CY, Kim SG.

Molecules (2010) 15(9):6332-6348 <link>

23. Inhibition of liver X receptor-a-dependent hepatic steatosis by isoliquiritienin, a licorice antioxidant flavonoid, as mediated by JNK1 inhibition. 

Kim YM, Kim TH, Kim YW, Yang YM, Ryu da H, Hwang SJ, Lee JR, Kim SC, Kim SG. 

Free Radic Biol Med (2010) 49(11):1722-1734 <link>

24. AMPK-associated signaling to bridge the gap between fuel metabolism and hepatocyte viability.

Yang YM, Han CY, Kim YJ, Kim SG.

World J Gastroenterol (2010) 16(30):3731-3742 <link>

25. G(alpha)12/13 inhibition enhances the anticancer effect of bortezomib trough PSMB5 downregulation. 

Yang YM, Lee S, Nam CW, Ha JH, Jayaraman M, Dhanasekaran DN, Lee CH, Kwak MK, Kim SG. 

Carcinogenesis (2010) 31(7):1230-1237 <link>

26. Inhibition of SREBP1c-mediated hepatic steatosis and oxidative stress by sauchinone, an AMPK-activating lignan in Saururus chinensis. 

Kim YW, Kim YM, Yang YM, Kim TH, Hwang SJ, Lee JR, Kim SC, Kim SG. 

Free Radic Biol Med (2010) 48(4):567-578 <link>

27. Metadoxine, an ion-pair of pyridoxine and L-2-pyrrolidone5-carboxylate, blocks adipocyte differentiation in association with inhibition of the PKA-CREB pathway.

Yang YM, Kim HE, Ki SH, Kim SG. 

 Arch Biochem Biophys (2009) 488(2):91-99 <link>

28. Abrogation of hyperosmotic impairment of insulin signaling by a novel class of 1,2-dithiole-3-thiones through the inhibition of S6K1 activation. 

Bae EJ, Yang YM, Kim SG. (2008) 

Mol Pharmacol (2008) 73(5):1502-1512 <link>

29. Identification of a novel class of dithiolethiones that prevent hepatic insulin resistance via the adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase-p70 ribosomal S6 kinase-1 pathway. 

Bae EJ, Yang YM, Kim JW, Kim SG.

Hepatology (2007) 46:730-739 <link>